Gas and liquid separator



Dec. 3, 1929. H. P. PINKHAM GAS AND LIQUID SEPARATOR Filed Sept. 1, 1927 [III Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY P. PINKHAM, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CONDIT ELEC- TRICAL MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS GAS AND LIQUID SEPARATOR Application filed September 1, 1927. Serial No.'216,878.

This invention relates to gas and liquid separators and especially to oil separators associated with oil immersed electric switches for the purpose of separating oil from the switch gases expelled, from the switch during circuit interruption.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of an oil separator of the general vortex type especially adapted for use in connection with oil switches.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an oil separator of the vortex type with means to return the separated oil back to the switch through the inlet pipe to the separating apparatus.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an oil separator of the vortex type having an entrance nozzle which is disposed in the upper part of the separator casing so that the separated oil can circulate through the casing without passing across the nozzle.

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the construction and operation of separating devices.

Certain features of this invention are disclosed and claimed in my eopending application Serial No. 216,877, filed September 1, 1927.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of an :oil separating apparatus embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig.1 with the cover removed.

Fig. '3 is .1 sectional detail taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The separatingapparatus embodying this invention comprises a cylindrical easing having the bottom wall 10 and the upstanding integral annular Wall 12. r

The casing is open at the top and is closed by a circular cover plate 14 which is attached removably to the casing-over the top opening by means of bolts 16... The casing is provided with an upstanding central discharge tube- 18 which is integral with the bottom wall and which has a discharge-passage 20 therein down which the separated gases are adapted to flow and pass intoa downwardly directed discharge pipe 22 which is screw threaded into the lower open end of the tube 18. The

cored out to therein. Said projection is terminated at its 'lower end in a horizontal boss 30 into which tube 18 is open at the top and is terminated above the top of the casing wall 12 and is located in' a dome.24 formed in the cover plate 14. The side walls are spaced from said tube 18 to permit free communication between the tube and the interior of the casing. The side wall of the casing is provided with a vertically disposed projection 26 which is provide the vertical passage 28 the vent. pipe 32 extended from the switch casing is screw threaded. The vertical passage 28 is in communication at its upper end with an aperture 34 in the side wall 12 of v the casing and thence to the bowl 36 ofa nozzle 38 which isdisposed within the interior of the casing and at the top thereof. The mouth 40 of said nozzle is elongated in a 1 vertical direction and. the inclination of said nozzle is such as to direct a stream of the mixture of oil and gas approximately tangentially against the inner face of the side wall so that the oil is aused to flow with a vortex motion about and in contact with the inner face of the" side wall and gradually fall by gravity into the bottom of the casing. The gas, being lighter than the oil, passes to the interior of the casing and rises into the (lOIIlO 24 and flows downwardly through the tube 18 in the vent pipe 22 and escapes from the casing substantially free from any large amounts of oil.

The nozzle is in the upper part of the easing so that the oil as it revolves about the cas-" ing in contact *with the side wall thereof will not flow over the nozzle.

The oil separated from. the gas stream'in the casing is adapted to be returned to the switch casing through the vent pipe 32. To

this end, an opening 42 is formed in the lower I sage.

pipe for this purpose is slightly inclined downward away from the casing.

I claim:

1. An oil separator comprising a circular casing having a gas outlet in the middle thereof and an entrance nozzle at the side thereof and an inlet pipe communicating with said nozzle, said casing having provision for returning the se arated oil from saidcasing back through sai inlet pipe.

2. An oil separator comprising a circular casing having a gas outlet in the middle thereof and an entrance nozzle at the side thereof directed to discharge fluid against the inner circular wall of the casing, and an inlet pipe communicating with said nozzle, said casing having provision for returning the separated oil from said casing back through said inlet ipe.

p 3. An oil separator comprising a cylindrical casing having an exit passage for the gas in the middle thereof and an entrance nozzle for the combined gas and liquid stream at the side thereof which is inclined todirect the stream against the cylindrical inner face of the casing, and an inlet pipe communicating with said nozzle, said casing having an opening in the lower portion thereof establishing communication between the interior of the casing and said inlet pipe and through which the separated oil can return into said inlet pipe.

4. An oil separator comprising a cylins drical casing having an exit passage for the gas in the middle thereof and an entrance nozzle for thecombined gas and liquid stream at the side thereof which is inclined to direct the stream against the cylindrical inner face of the casing, and an inlet pipe communicating with said nozzle, said casing having an opening in the lower portion thereof establishing communication between the indirected gas discharge tube disposed in the middle of the casing and having its upper end arranged in communication with the in tenor of the casing at the upper end of said casing, and a laterally extended oil discharge passage connecting the interior of said cas- 111g below said nozzle with said inlet pas- 6. An oil separator comprising an open top cylindrical casing having an entrance nozzle at one side arranged to discharge the liquid and gas stream against the cylindrical inner face of the casing, an inlet ipe communicating with said nozzle, an extended discharge tube for the gases disposed in the middle of said casing and having its open upper end terminated above the top of the casing, a cover for said casing having a dome therein in which the open upper end of said tube is located, the side wall of said dome beingspaced from said tube .to establish communication between the interior of saidcasing and the open upper end of said tube, and a normally closed return passage for the separated oil connecting said inlet pipe and the bottom portion of said casing.

7. An oilseparator comprising a cylindripwardly cal casing having an inlet passage, a discharge with the bottom portion of said casing and I with said inlet passage.

8. An oil separator comprising a cylindrical casing having an outlet in the middle and an inlet nozzle'located at the side wall and in the upper part of the casing and arranged to direct a liquid and gas stream onto the cylindrical inner face of the casing wall, said wall having an opening therethrough disposed beneath said nozzle, and an inlet pipe adapted for communication both with said opening and with said nozzle.

9. An oil separator comprising a cylindrical enclosing casing having a vertically extended dischar e tube disposed in the middle of the casing and having an open top arranged in communication with the interior of said casing at the top thereof, a nozzle located in the upper portion of the casing at the side wall and arranged to direct the liquid and gas stream approximately tangentially. onto the cylindrical inner face of said side wall, said side wall having an opening at the bottom thereof belowsaid nozzle, and a horizontal inlet conduit arranged at the'level of said opening and adapted for communication both with said opening and with said nozzle. p

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY P. PINKHAM. 

